Lab Introductory to Astronomy
As Taught In:
Online period 2020/2021
Level:
undergraduate
Resources:
=> Slide Notes
Course Overview:
This is an introductory course with no pre-requisites and does not serve as a prerequisite for other courses. Nearly all take it to satisfy general education requirements. Being an independent learners in a state with a challenging K-12 systems, learner background is generally complex in both reading and mathematical ability.
Course Description:
Introduction to the universe beyond the solar system. Includes the nature of light, how astronomers and telescopes work, with the possibilities of living things in the universe. Also, includes the life-time of stars, exotic objects such as quasars, pulsars, and black holes and the origin, nature and future of the universe. Also includes scientific thinking as an application of critical and quantitative thinking and science in contrast to pseudoscience. Also, includes in-class measurements and mathematical exercises, outside observation projects, independent studies, and self-initiated field trips to local astronomy facilities.
Course Objective:
Once learner complete the course, the leaners will able to knowing the following appropriately:
- Demonstrate improvement in critical and quantitative thinking by applying the scientific method to fact and theory in classroom learning, activities, some quantitative and mathematical, and practices, some quantitative and mathematical.
- Distinguish science from pseudoscience. As learner understanding of what science is and isn’t, and learner understanding of how science operates.
- Induce or expand global awareness with the cosmic perspective on Earth offered by describing the general hierarchical structure and individual components of the observable universe.
- Explain theories of the origin of the universe. With learner awareness to overall appreciation of the universe and how it works.
- Describe the nature of stars and starlight. Upon learner thoughts during the day time and on a clear night.
- Delineate the characteristics of galaxies. Upon learner understanding of what astronomer know about the universe and how we know it.
- Indicate major technical developments assisting greater understanding of the universe.
- Discuss the probabilities of life elsewhere in the universe.
- Employ, in various in-class activities and outside observation projects, specific concepts, skills or information related to the courses.
- Identify specific aspects of the sky and record common sky phenomena, utilizing the naked eye or binoculars.
- Examine and describe the sky more closely in at least one telescope viewing experience.
- Describe astronomical and astronomy-related facilities in the learner area.
- Discuss the learner area’s importance to the field of astronomy and astronomy’s role in the local area development.
- Learner understanding and appreciation of newspaper and magazine articles on astronomy.
- Learner awareness of some of the present day problems on the face of astronomers.
Texts:
Although there are no required text but you will be suggested and expected to have a reading and writing level:
Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit. 2007. The Cosmic Perspective 5th Edition. ISBN: 978-0-321-50618-4
Mathematics is the language of science, arithmetic, algebra and geometry principles and procedures will be used in the course as needed.
You are expected to complete reading assignments before coming to class, and to complete any online quizzes associated with a reading assignment by the specified time. Otherwise, learner may have to responsible of their own confusion.
Course Discussion:
Just as you will not skip breathing and will not be late for your family, you are to attend every discussion and be on appropriate.
Grading:
There are three (3) components of responsibility in the course – (1) posters, (2) individual observation projects, and (3) individual outside projects. Learner are suggest to complete each of the three components as described in the sections “Projects”. If you have find challenge in this project, then this will be your responsibility to ask until you can understand.
Our Courses are self-written. All lecture notes, PowerPoint, and reading material are available online as HTML and pdf files. There is no other required text. (login required to access it).
For this course, please read “Learner Responsibilities” and “Code of Academic Ethics: Violation” and submit it to us before you start your course.
The course has a total of 16 weeks. Each course topic and material to be covered given here is not to be considered a binding contract. If there is any changes during the course then I will notify you before hand.
Topics Outline:
Week 1 – Our Place in the Universe
Week 2 – The Science of Astronomy
Week 3 – Discovering the Universe Part I
Week 4 – Discovering the Universe Part II
Week 5 – Light & Matter Part 1
Week 6 – Light & Matter Part 2
Week 7 – Light & Matter Part 3 & Telescopes Part 1
Week 8 – Telescopes Part 2
Week 9 – Surveying the Stars Part 1
Week 10 – Surveying the Stars Part 2
Week 11 – Our Sun and the Variability of the Stars
Week 12 – Star Birth Part 1
Week 13 – Star Birth Part 2 and Star Proper Motions Part 1
Week 14 – Star Proper Motions Part 2 – Photometry of Pleiades and The Bizarre Stellar
Week 15 – The Bizarre Stellar CLEA Pulsars
Week 16 – Course Conclusion
Points will be earned in the following three numbering ways from each component of which is required of your course grade:
(1) Each learner will produce a research-based poster on one of the objects observed by the Hubble Space Telescope or James Webb Space Telescope given at the course section (after login). While the poster must make use of information found on more than the given link, you are to use the information available on it. Learner responsible to organize it by learner-self and in learner own words. No more than one learner may choose a given image for the poster, so first come first served. Criteria and Requirements for the poster measurement will be developed in course.
(2) As 2nd project you have some required observations and several options for earning extra understanding. Further information and due dates on these assignments will be given during course. Learner local weather is need to be check and the skies are usually to get monitored for your project, indicate don’t wait until the last minute to start then ask for exceptions due to cloudy weather. Exceptions will not be granted if you have read it up to this point and listening during the live course.
(3) The third and the final project divided into three types of individual outside projects. So, don’t wait until the last minute to start and then ask for exceptions. Because exceptions will not be granted. Responsibility for learning includes your own responsibility to solving the given project at an appropriate time.
Below are the three (3) alphabet types of individual outside projects:
(A) Field Trips and Lectures
Astronomy is a subject that can be approached in a variety of ways. And because we live in what is sometimes referred to as the “Universe”, we should take advantage of some special opportunities here. Possibilities include your local national observatory, and other activities announced through the term that are acceptable. For local astronomy public presentation, please check your email and find the nearby you.
There will be no credit without the brochure, agenda, or the evidence that proves your presence. Learner must complete the Public Lecture Report Form that will be provided and have it properly stamped at the talk.
However, if learner have access to or interest in another field trip location, please discuss with me for approval prior attending.
(B) Written Projects
Learner may have to review scholarly magazines articles, scholarly web sites sources, and scholarly books. Let’s discuss for approval and reliability prior to choosing a book or magazine other than suggested in the course slide.
The articles chosen must be major. For article summaries, no more than one can be on a topic not covered in the course, like the solar system. However, we as educator may reserve the right not to accept something that we feel is overly short.
Finally, in this project, you will require to write a report that include a complete bibliographic information within 300-350 words. Summary of the article or website and the answers to some challenge you have. Use the Written Project Report Form that will be provided.
(C) Creative Projects
Learners who have particular interest in the creative development astronomy are welcome to discuss ideas with me about ways to better understanding. Some common possibilities in general include posters, poetry, short stories, photography, computer graphics and artwork, but I would like to hear more educative suggestions. Let’s discuss and develop the project together so that our criteria can be achieve equally.